I was going to write this week all about the wonderful street food available on Surrey Street Market.

Along with favourites like George and Tom with their amazing home cooked Jamaican and Chinese food - the best in Croydon in my opinion - Surrey Street is now home to several new businesses. We have Mexican, Afghan and Polish food as well as a new stall selling home made Jamaican patties to go along side George’s rice, chicken and fish.

I have been trying these stalls out whilst on the market each Friday and had planned to sample those I haven’t got to yet this week and write about the wonderful world food festival taking place every day on a street near you. Instead, like many Croydoners, I’ve been mostly in bed with this horrible throaty, fluey thing doing the rounds.

You may think there is no secret to share if I haven’t been our and about with my ear to the ground this week. There, you’d be wrong. This week, I’ll take the opportunity to share my secret ‘cold, flu and any other winter nasty bug busting brew.’ You guessed it, all the ingredients are there for you on the market.

You need lemons, limes, fresh root ginger and fresh thyme. All you do is fill a pan with water, quarter around 4-6 lemons and 2-3 limes, squeeze the juice into the water and throw the rest into the pan, peel and chop the ginger - as much as you like depending on how much of a kick you want and add it to the pan, add a handful of fresh thyme.

Then boil it all up and simmer for about half an hour. You serve it with honey to taste. Once you take a cup out, add a cup of water and then re-boil each time you take more. If you keep adding water and re-boiling it will last for 24 hours and then you can make a fresh batch.

I make it strong with lots of lemon and ginger when I have symptoms and make it with just 3 lemons and a lime as a preventative brew through the winter. The fruit gives you vitamin C and the ginger and Thyme have antibiotic and antiviral properties. It is really soothing and tastes great too. A bowl each of lemons, limes and ginger and a bunch of Thyme from the market would make you 2-3 brews for just £4.

I’m off to pour a cup now so I can beat this bug once and for all. Once I get my appetite back I’ll be ready to try out all that yummy street food. I’ll tell you all about the food and the stories behind the dishes and those who cook them next week.

 

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